If you are travelling to Death Valley National Park from the east you will come through Las Vegas and drive about three hours (146 miles) on Highway 95 to Beatty, NV. Turn west at Beatty on 374 over the Daylight Pass right into the middle of Death Valley. The other route from Las Vegas takes Highway 160 passing Pahrump, NV and onto 190 which takes you through the Death Valley.
If you are driving to Death Valley National Park from the west I recommend traveling through Ridgecrest and Trona, over the Wildrose Pass road, stopping to photograph the charcoal kilns in Wildrose Canyon.
Some photographic highlights not to be missed: